Newington To Seek Grant To Update Aging Housing Complex

NEWINGTON -- The town council last week took the first step toward seeking a $500,000-plus federal grant to fix up the Newington Housing Authority's aging Cedar Village complex.

Town Manager John Salomone told the council that the town would apply for the Small Cities Block Grant needed to do the work. If approved, the funds would be turned over to the housing authority, which is independent of the town, for much-needed repairs to the 40 Cedar Village apartments, he said.

"They're tired looking," Salomone said of the complex, which was built in 1981. "They are in the most need of repair of the authority's three locations. It's safe to say there are a lot of needs at this site."

Salomone said that the deadline to apply for the grant is April 1. If the town's application were approved, the funds would become available in the next federal fiscal year that begins in October, he said.

The town manager did not ask the council to take any immediate action on the application last week.

"Before I went any further, I wanted to introduce it to the town council," Salomone said.

Housing authority Executive Director Melinda Harvey said Thursday that she is "thrilled" that the town is interested in applying for the grant.

"I think this is a win-win," Harvey said. "It's a win for the town because the property's upkeep stays current. For us, it's a way to have improvements made."

If the authority gets the grant, it would use the funds to upgrade Cedar Village's fire alarm system, replace its aging boilers, update handicapped accessibility and do other repairs, Harvey said.

The authority is seeking an architect to draw up renovation plans, which must be submitted in the grant application, Harvey said. She estimated the authority's share of the renovation costs, including architectural drawings, at about $50,000.

In January, the authority will apply for a state grant to do similar work at its other complexes, the 40-unit Kelleher Park on West Hill Road and the 26-unit New Meadow Village behind the senior center, Harvey said.

The authority's apartments are open to people 62 and older or the disabled 18 and older, she said.

The authority receives no federal subsidies and charges residents 30 percent of their monthly income for rent, Harvey said. For that reason, it generally needs grans to do major repairs, she said.